As a followup on this discussion (and many thanks to those who replied...)
 
The bad news is that the Rotring Artist colors white ink does not seem to be available in the U.S. anymore, either because it is not made anymore or not sold in the U.S. (though it might be available in the U.K. apparently?)
 
A suggested substitute is Koh-I-Noor Transmix Media Brilliant Ink in white, which is archival, waterproof, and available from some art supply stores, both online and otherwise. If you use this ink with dip pens, you will need to put it in ink bottles, since it comes in bottles of the type used for refilling Rapidograph type pens. You can get empty glass ink bottles from various places, including DickBlick.com.
 
Another suggestion was white Speedball Acid-free archival pigmented acrylic ink. Supposed to be archival, waterproof, permanent, non-toxic and again available from art supply stores and online.
 
I've not tried either yet, of course.  
 
 
 
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Yearous, Jenny Dee
Sent: Monday, July 07, 2008 3:24 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] White ink for artifact numbering?

I have used Rotring brand Artist Colors for years with great success.  It is a white pigment ink that I get in bottles just like the carbon black (India) ink that I use for other numbering. It claims to be light fast and waterproof and I have not had any problems with it in those regards.  I get it from my local art supply store. Since I haven't bought any in a number of years, I can't say what the price is like but it should be on the same line as the black ink. I do use it with the quill type pens with no problems, diluting or anything else and I use the B-72 clear coat with it again no problems. Water clean-up.
 
Jenny Yearous
Curator of Collections Management
State Historical Society of North Dakota

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Pickering, Felicia
Sent: Monday, July 07, 2008 1:17 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] White ink for artifact numbering?

Does anyone have an suggestions for white ink that works well for numbering artifacts? I am not talking about ink to put down as a layer to write a number on, but white ink to use to write the actual number with. 
 
We have some of the white fluid acrylic ink from the Northern States Conservation Center http://www.collectioncare.org/shop/index.html , but have not been too happy with it. It does not seem to write well right out of the bottle, but needs to be fiddled with/diluted if using a dip pen. This gets to be tedious and time consuming if you have to do multiple numbers.
 
We mostly use black ink, and have some black that works for us. However, sometimes white ink is preferable for certain artifacts. 
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